This may be the final opportunity for the government to ward off initiation of a possible contempt proceeding over its failure to comply with the seven-year-old judgment.

The Supreme Court has given the Centre six more weeks to comply with its 2008 judgment ordering the implementation of the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) principle for retired armed forces personnel.

On Wednesday, a bench led by Justice T S Thakur posted the matter after six weeks on a request made by Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, who asked for some more time to enable the government to do the needful.

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This may be the final opportunity for the government to ward off initiation of a possible contempt proceeding over its failure to comply with the seven-year-old judgment.

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On February 16, the court had reminded the NDA government of its promise to implement OROP in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “This was part of your manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. You must keep your word,” the bench had observed while hearing a contempt petition, filed by retired Major General S P S Vains.

Vains has dragged the Defence Ministry to the court, demanding immediate implementation of the OROP scheme.

While posting the matter after three months, the bench had in February said: “We make it clear that no further time will be granted for the purpose of implementation of the impugned judgment.” However, on Wednesday, the bench accorded yet another opportunity to the government after the ASG said modalities of the implementation of the OROP were being devised. The court will hear the case next on August 24.